The Coming of the Revolution in Virginia

C > ONTEMPLATING the approach of independence in May I776, Landon Carter, Virginia planter and retired Burgess, recorded in his diary that the Revolution was an unfortunate contest which Great Britain certainly began with America by attempting to tax her out of the constitutional road.' Carter took a view of the predominant issue leading to the American Revolution that every Patriot leader in Virginia shared. All the major public resolutions, addresses, and petitions of the colony spoke against a threat to ancient, legal, and constitutional Rights.2 The final statement, a bill of indictment against George III in the preamble of the I776 constitution, comprised twenty-two charges, which stand as an official summary of the issues as the colony saw them.3 Five of the twenty-two related to punitive actions taken after the beginning of hostilities by Dunmore or by British military authorities elsewhere and did not, therefore, concern basic issues from which the conflict had arisen. Two other accusations were too general to relate to specific grievances. Of the remain

Class (philosophy · Economic history · Political science · Politics · Ruling class · American Constitutional Law and Politics · American History and Culture · History · Law · Philosophy

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